North Korea pays emotional birthday tribute to late Kim Jong Il

North Korea marked Thursday's birthday of Kim Jong Il with emotional televised tributes to the late leader, as the regime pledged loyalty to his son and successor. -- PHOTO: AP SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea marked Thursday's birthday of Kim Jong Il with emotional televised tributes to the late leader, as the regime pledged loyalty to his son and successor. Her voice quavering with grief, an announcer on state TV introduced film footage of the former strongman visiting villages, farms and factories in a purported expression of care for his people. 'The General (Kim) took time out of his busy schedule and deigned to visit my daughter's home, listening to this old farmer's concerns,' an old woman said on TV. 'There are no other leaders in the world like the General.' The personality cult surrounding the Kim dynasty, which has ruled the country since its founding in 1948, has inte...